Park Operations: Connecting park management with a vision for a sustainable tomorrow: The Integrated Environmental Plan
Magari M. 2011. Park Operations: Connecting park management with a vision for a sustainable tomorrow: The Integrated Environmental Plan. Park Science. 28(1):20–21
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin) has been a leader in environmental stewardship, participating in numerous programs that foster sustainable practices and promote innovative solutions with environmental benefits. However, managing several different voluntary environmental initiatives and meeting mandatory environmental compliance requirements, together with a desire to enhance sustainability commitments, became time-consuming and complex. The small-park staff looked at creative solutions to address the challenge, and the Integrated Environmental Plan (IEP) is the result. The IEP is a management system &ellips; [that] combines, streamlines, and simplifies administration and reporting of the park’s many environmental initiatives. As a central repository for the various environmental protocols, the IEP creates more effective data collection and an efficient reporting platform. The IEP also allows scientific input to better support park decisions regarding environmental management and to help discover the synergies among different park priorities, including responding to climate change. Annual updates of goals and reexamination of park visions provide an avenue for management adaptation, mitigation efforts, and communication on multiple environmental issues.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Magari, Monica
- Units
- APIS , NRSS
- Keywords
- adaptation strategy, Apostle Islands NL, Environmental Management System, Integrated Environmental Plan, mitigation strategy, sustainability management systems, sustainability planning